Monday, November 29, 1999

Beach patrol timing increased in Goa

Panaji, May 15 (PTI) Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat today said that the state''s beaches would now be manned till late night under beach management scheme. "We have extended the beach management scheme till 11 pm so that the beaches are manned properly," Kamat said here. Earlier, the beaches were manned till 6 pm. The Chief Minister told this at a function organised by World Travel and Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII) to hand over vehicles to the state government that would be used for proposed Tourist Security Force. The state has already implemented beach management scheme contracted to a private party, which has employed several lifeguards along the 105-km-long coastline. Kamat said certain incidents involving foreigners raise apprehensions in the mind of international travellers. "Such incidents happen in the countries where tourism is the backbone of the economy. But we have taken abundant precautions and all the culprits are booked," he added. He said that Chief Justice of Bombay High Court has agreed to have a designated court for trials involving foreigners. The court will expedite the hearing and dispose them off on day-to-day basis. The private players in the tourism field today donated 15 jeeps and 7 two wheelers for Tourist Security Force, an elite force that is being conceived to look after safety of tourists in this coastal state. These vehicles will patrol the coastline from extreme south to north.